什么是天启？

……He hath ordained that in every age and dispensation a pure and stainless Soul be made manifest in the kingdom of earth and heaven. . . . Through the Teachings of this Day Star of Truth every man will advance and develop until he attaineth  the station at which he can man fest all the potential forces with which his inmost true self hath been endowed. ——Baha’u’llah.

……祂命定了一个纯淨无瑕的灵魂，在每一个年代及天启期，显现于地上和天堂的王国……通过这真理之晨星的教义，人人得以前进和发展，将所有内在的、天赐的潜能显现出来，达到崇高的境界。——巴哈欧拉。

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Each divine Revelation is divided into two parts. The first part is essential and belongs to the eternal world. It is the exposition of divine truths and essential principles. It is the expression of the love of God. This is one in all the religions, unchangeable and immutable. The second part is not eternal; it deals with practical life, transactions and business, and changes according to the evolution of man and the requirements of the time of each Prophet…… 

According to the exigencies of the time, His Holiness Moses  revealed ten laws for capital punishment. It was impossible at that time to protect the community and to preserve social security without these severe measures, for the children of Israel lived in the wilderness of Tah, where there were no established courts of justice and no penitentiaries. But this code of conduct was not needed in the time of Christ. ——Abdu’l-Baha. 

每一个天启都有两个部分，一个是必需的，属于永恒的世界、披露神圣的真理和必需的原则。它是上天爱人的表现，为所有宗教所共同拥有，是不可更易的内容，永不变质。另一个是非永恒的，根据每一位先知在世时人类的生活作业、商业交易、人本的演进变化和当代社会的要求所颁布的教义……

圣者摩西根据祂的时代的需要，启示了十项死刑的律法。假如没有这些严峻的律法，活在达尔郊野的以色列子民，因无法庭维护正义，也无苦刑赎罪的措施，将无法保护他们的社区，亦不能维持社会的安宁。但这些道德准则到了耶稣的时候就不再需要了。——阿博都-巴哈。

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Beware, O believers in the Unity of God, lest ye be tempted to make any distinction between any of the Manifestations of His Cause, or to discriminate against the signs that have accompanied and proclaimed their Revelation. This indeed is the true meaning of Divine Unity, if ye be of them that apprehend and believe this truth. Be ye assured, moreover, that the works and acts of each and every one of these Manifestations of God, nay whatever pertaineth unto them, and whatsoever they may manifest  in the future are all ordained by God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose. Whoso maketh the slightest possible difference between their persons, their words, their messages, their acts and manners, hath Indeed disbelieved in God, hath repudiated His signs, and betrayed the Cause of His Messengers. Baha’u’llah.

噢，相信上天团结的人啊！切要小心，以免一时的冲动，给祂们的圣道做出区分，或对宣布祂们的启示伴随而来的征兆，做出比较。能够理解并相信这个真理的人是真正懂得了神圣团结的意义。你还要确信，每一位上天的显圣者的工作和行为，乃至每一件和祂们相关的事，以及将来祂们所显现的任何事，都是上天已经命定了的，反映上天的意愿和目的。任何人对祂们的人身、言论、讯息、行动和态度做出既使是最微小的、可能的区分，都是已经不信了上天、否定了祂的征兆、背叛了祂信使的圣道。——巴哈欧拉。

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